‘Travel Agents Today Should Be An Interpreter For Alternatives’

From a humble yet ambitious beginning, Ritika Modi, regional president, Uniglobe Travel (South Asia) has spearheaded the South Asia region efficiently. Savio Rodrigues speaks to her about the division’s future plans and the growth of franchising in the Indian travel industry…

Is India geared up to accept the franchising model of operations in the travel industry?

Though known and accepted in travel trade circles, franchising has yet to ride the boom wave in India. It is at a nascent stage. However, there is an optimism that prevails, in the coming years more and more travel agents will find a need to associate with a larger travel network base or seek expertise.

Uniglobe Travel has grown by leaps and bounds in the past couple of years. What kind of growth do you envisage for the Uniglobe Travel South Asia Regional Division in the next five years?

From 24 franchisees in South Asia till date, we aim to achieve a base of 90 franchisees by the end of 2007. We are certain that by the end of 2006, we would have reached a tally of 50 franchisees across South Asia. Of the total number of franchisees, we are certain that India will account for 70 franchisees.

In today’s emerging market where travel agents are more equipped with knowledge and business finesse, what value does an organisation like Uniglobe Travel provide to the already informed travel agent?

Today’s travel agent is technologically sound. However, it is in the areas in which most travel agents lack in expertise like training, global network, regional support, implementation of systems and process and preferred suppliers relationship that we score. In a competitive global environment, the need to be equipped across countries via a global network is imperative to most travel agents. And the travel agents that are associated with Uniglobe Travel are not large cash rich conglomerates but enterprising entrepreneurs looking at making a success of the travel related venture.

While Uniglobe Travel certainly does possess a first mover advantage, we are witnessing a considerable penetration of other travel franchise companies in the country? Do you foresee immense competition?

Competition will certainly fuel business opportunities across the industry as each company will actively work towards promoting its business models. This in turn creates vast awareness in the travel trade circles about the need for travel companies to seek franchisee options. We certainly do possess a strong first mover advantage and we have capitalised on that and we will continue to ensure that we are the leading travel franchising company in South Asia.

You mentioned earlier that training forms a vital component of your franchising model. What training methodologies do Uniglobe Travel practice and offer its franchisees?

Training is imperative in today’s highly competitive environment. Uniglobe Travel takes active interest in educating and training franchisees on travel methodologies, new trends, business practices and reservation systems. Being associated with Uniglobe Travel means representing the quality and high level of standards that our brand stands for, therefore in order to maintain and further establish our value in the global market, training for all franchise take prime importance over every other facet.

Do you see the role of travel agents evolving in the near future?

Travel agents need to go beyond just being issuers of tickets. Travel, is an experience whether it’s corporate or leisure. Travel agents need to enact a role of a consultant. As more and more travellers gets barraged with loads of information that are available across all mediums of communications, more than getting informed, the traveller get confused. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us travel agents to guide and educate our customers about the traveller really requires. A travel agent to me is an ‘Interpreter of Alternatives’.

Markets sources reveal that Uniglobe Travel is extremely selective in forming its alliances with franchisees, what are the criteria that Uniglobe Travel looks for in associating with a travel agent?

We look at small to medium size travel agencies whose core focus is corporate business travel. Our quality standards are high, therefore, so our selection process becomes critical and at times it may mean selective.